Russian Warship Fires Warning Shots at Cargo Ship in Black Sea

A Russian warship fired warning shots and boarded a Palau-flagged cargo ship in the Black Sea after the vessel failed to respond to a request to stop for inspection. This incident comes amid escalating tensions in the region, with Russia recently pulling out of a UN-brokered grain deal and deeming all ships heading to Ukrainian waters as potentially carrying weapons. Ukraine has responded with similar threats to ships approaching Russian or Russian-held Ukrainian ports. The incident has been condemned by Ukraine as a violation of international law, while Russia asserts its right to stop ships in the Black Sea.